Organ-on-a-chip-device

Abstract

A self-contained organ-on-a-chip device includes at least one organ growth section comprising at least two organ cavities and a degradable matrix or a micro-channel arranged between the at least two organ cavities. The degradable matrix or the micro-channel is configured to allow for a formation of a capillary network between the at least two organ cavities within the at least one organ growth section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-contained organ-on-a-chip device comprising:
 at least one organ growth section comprising at least two organ cavities; and   a degradable matrix or a micro-channel arranged between the at least two organ cavities, the degradable matrix or the micro-channel being configured to allow for a formation of a capillary network between the at least two organ cavities within the at least one organ growth section.   
     
     
         2 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor;   wherein, the at least two organ cavities at least one of comprise and are connected to the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a microfluidic feed channel; and   at least one medium feed reservoir,   wherein, the at least one medium feed reservoir is connected to the at least one organ growth section by the microfluidic feed channel and by at least one of the at least two organ cavities.   
     
     
         4 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one organ growth section comprises a stem cell cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one medium waste reservoir,   wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at least one of:   between at least one of the at least two organ cavities and at the at least one medium waste reservoir, and   within at least one of the at least two organ cavities.   
     
     
         6 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein,
 the microfluidic feed channel comprises an outlet, and   the at least one organ growth section comprises at least two organ cavities arranged radially with respect to the outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each of the at least two organ cavities are arranged so as to form a conical segment of a disc. 
     
     
         8 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor is selected from a pH sensor, a pO 2  sensor, an analyte capture sensor, a conductivity sensor, a plasmon resonance sensor, a temperature sensor, a CO 2  sensor, a NO sensor, a chemotaxis sensor, a cytokine sensor, an ion sensor, a potentiometric sensor, an amperometric sensor, a flow-through-sensor, a fill sensor, an impedance sensor, a conductivity sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor, and a metabolic sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising electrical connectors. 
     
     
         10 . A supply unit for holding the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 9  during an operation, the supply unit comprising:
 a holding device configured to releasably engage the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device; and 
 electric connectors configured to connect the electrical connectors on the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device to the supply unit. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing at least one organ growth section layer;   providing a medium layer; and   bonding the medium layer to the at least one organ growth section layer or to a part thereof so as to be fluid-tight.   
     
     
         12 . A method of establishing at least one of an organ and an organoid in the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing a suspension of cells or a tissue slice;   loading the suspension of cells or the tissue slice into at least one of the at least two organ cavities; and   sealing the at least one of the at least two organ cavities so as to be fluid-tight.   
     
     
         13 . A method of testing an effect of at least one test compound on at least one of an organ and an organoid established in the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 , the method, comprising:
 providing the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1  with at least one of an organ and an organoid; or   providing a suspension of cells or a tissue slice,   loading the suspension of cells or the tissue slice into at least one of the at least two organ cavities, and   sealing each of the at least two organ cavities so as to be fluid-tight; then   adding at least one test compound to the at least one of an organ and an organoid;   microscopically assessing the at least one of an organ and an organoid; and   determining at least one parameter via the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         14 . A method of using the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing the self-contained organ-on-a-chip device as recited in  claim 1 ;   providing at least one of at least one organ and at least one organoid; and   at least one of testing an effect of at least one test compound on the at least one of at least one organ and at least one organoid, and examining at least one of an organ function and an organoid function.